pennsylvania bear population by county

Black bear attacks are uncommon, especially when compared to attacks by other bear species, but these creatures are nevertheless dangerous. With the help of his friends, it took about five hours to move the bear out of the woods. The American Geode website is www.americangeode.com. This page features files containing county population totals and components of change for years 2020 to 2022. Tioga County had the most bears at 153, and Lycoming County hunters found 124 bears. In Pennsylvania, intentionally feeding bears is illegal. In 2019, Pennsylvania bear hunters had an all-time record harvest of 4,653 animals. Finally, to lower bear numbers, beginning in 2002, bear hunting season in select areas of the state has been lengthened to include the first week of firearms deer season. This is a rather big drop. Are they everywhere in the state? Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. The first is defensive, and the second is predatory. In those cases, the animal is often euthanized because they cannot change their eating habits. Black bears are the unrivaled apex predator in the keystone state. While a black bear may appear adorable going into a hot tub or swimming in a pool, there are some precautions you should take to keep yourself and your pets safe. Black bears, of which there are an estimated 20,000 in Pennsylvania, are roaming across nearly all the state. While the 2017 kill was down compared to 2016's harvest of 3,529, it nevertheless was among the top 10 bear harvests on record for Pennsylvania. The American Black Bear is a widely distributed North American mammal that holds spiritual significance for many different cultures. The city of Philadelphia is coterminous with Philadelphia County, the municipalities having been consolidated in 1854, and all remaining county government functions having been merged into the city after a 1951 referendum. Seven bears from Potter, Bedford, Clearfield, Clinton, Luzerne, Centre and Monroe counties were heavier than 600 pounds. The problem is people, especially those who try to feed the animals. With an estimated 18,000 black bears roaming across most of Pennsylvania, your chances of encountering a bear in the state are greater than at any other time over the past several hundred years. Inside, the light makes visible the head of a large black bear long brown snout, round teddy-bear ears, dark eyes. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). Its largest annual population increase was 1.5% between 2019 and 2020. Quite a number of counties have had negative population growth: Cameron County, the least populous in the state, has just 4,683 residents and its population has decreased by 7.69% since the last census, while the larger Cambria County's population has reduced to 134,313, representing a 6.37% decrease. There are 67 counties in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania hunters harvested more than 3,000 bears in the 2022 hunting seasons, including three that topped 700 pounds, according to numbers released last week by the Pennsylvania Game Commission. The problem is a bold black bear can be destructive and dangerous over in Carlisle Marianne has been living on the mountain and feeding birds for 37 years, bears have been eating there too for much of that time. He wanted to wait until the weather warmed up before heading out to the woods about noon. So always air on the side of caution. Black bears are thriving in Penns Woods today. Regionally, 87 bears were harvested in neighboring Berks (17), Dauphin (67), Lebanon (2) and York (1) counties. Seven bears from Potter, Bedford, Clearfield, Clinton, Luzerne, Centre and Monroe counties were heavier than 600 pounds. Bears can also serve as an indicator of ecological health, a symbol of the wilderness, and a source of revenue. Black bears walk in a shuffling, flat-footed way, but can run as fast as 30 miles per hour over short distances. Any comparison with the 1990 census to newer data will include the white, Black, and two categories added that year: American Indian/Alaska Native and Asian or Pacific Islander.. Aside from that, they can potentially cause significant damage to your home and or vehicles. Leading counties and area counties: Lycoming County finished with 284 bears to take the top county bear harvest. http://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/05/have_you_seen_the_camp_hill_be.html, Bears on move across Pennsylvania, backyards included. And on Oct. 15, a hunter shot a 705-pound bear with a muzzleloader in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County. If you have a vegetable garden, a chicken coop, an orchard, bee boxes, or any other outside bear attractants, you should consider using electric fencing to keep the bears at bay. Bears that are habituated to getting food from humans will have to be euthanized. Four hundred to 500 bears are hit and killed by motor vehicles in an average year, said Travis Lau, spokesman for the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Learn more about road-killed bears in Pennsylvania:http://www.pennlive.com/pa-sportsman/2016/04/what_are_your_chances_of_hitti.html. The 2010-2020 postcensal estimates are known to underestimate the population by about 1% nationally. Bears can be encountered at any time of day or night, but they are most active at dusk and dawn. Breeding bears are also present on the Tug Hill Plateau in Lewis and Oswego Counties, although bear abundance is considered fairly low at this time. Black bears seem to be heavy, yet they are surprisingly agile, capable of running up to 35 mph, climbing trees, and swimming well. Recent field studies from southeastern United States have . Of the 3 species of bears living in North America, Pennsylvania has only 1 of them, and that is the American Black Bear, Ursus americanus . And remember that penn's woods is the black bear's woods too. Of course none of these tips will guarantee smooth sailing bears like people are individuals and some are more trouble than others. Pennsylvania has a relatively small surface area. For example, Pennsylvanias bear harvest in 2021 was 3,659 bears. The largest bear through all 2020 seasons was the 719-pound male taken with a crossbow on Nov. 7 in Ayr Township, Fulton County. Several initiatives have been implemented to help address this trend. The black bear population in the state is over 4,500. The current bear population across Pennsylvania is estimated at 16,268 by the commission. Because black bears eat so little meat, their teeth do not need to be as sharp and scissor-like as those of meat-eating animals like wolves and cats. Montgomery County (820,656), Bucks County (626,751), and Delaware County (563,995) are all in the top five most populous counties in the state, and census statistics show that each of these have also had population increases of between 0.21% and 2.46% in recent years. Along this line, you should also store indoors and clean and disinfect your garbage cans regularly. Last fall, 215,219 hunters bought bear licenses resulting in 3,621 animals being killed in 59 of the states 67 counties. She is peering into a bear trap at a large black bear. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Advance Local. Take a look at an effort to understand the mange epidemic in Pennsylvania bears:http://www.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2018/05/mange_epidemic_in_pennsylvania.html. The first one was recorded in New Jersey in the fall of 2014, near the state line with Pennsylvania. According to harvest numbers from the past few years, Lycoming County should be the top destination for any hunter wanting to kill a Pennsylvania black bear. Reid R. Frazier covers energy for The Allegheny Front. Today, harvest during the extended season accounts for 30 to 40 percent of the total harvest in those areas. So she has learned to deal with it. Lycoming County was next best, producing 186 bears, followed by Tioga, with 185; Clearfield, with 158; Monroe, with 152; Clinton, with 150; Elk, with 140; Luzerne, with 125; Centre, with 117;. Southeast (179): Schuylkill, 75; Dauphin, 66; Northampton, 15; Lebanon, 2; Berks, 17; and Lehigh, 4. After that, she tattoos a number inside the bears mouth, in case the tag falls off. A few miles outside of Jersey Shore, Stan and Rob Shrader are parked next to the Antes Fort firehall in their green pickup, waiting on the game commission. How dangerous are they? Bears are unique, though, in that they aren't "deep" hibernators. The total population in Bear Creek is currently 2,744 people. Pennsylvania has a large, thriving bear population. While mountain lions are native to Rhode Island, as Wolves, which were once hunted to near-extinction in the contiguous United States, have begun making a comeback. Lycoming County gave up 212 bears to rank first among counties for bear harvest. There are 16 subspecies of Ursus americanus and the total population in North America is thought to be between 600,00 and 900,000 bears, depending on your source. Surprised, he said, "Holy heck, there's a bear." Bears can be found throughout Pennsylvania in big forested areas. On Nov. 22, a 746-pound bear was taken with a rifle in Barrett Township, Monroe County.And on Oct. 15, a hunter shot a 705-pound bear with a muzzleloader in Middle Smithfield Township, Monroe County.Across Pennsylvania, 11 bears topped 600 pounds.The heaviest bear ever taken in Pennsylvania was an 875-pound bear in 2010 in Pike County.Video below: May 2022 - bear spotted wandering around York County neighborhood.Top countiesThe following counties topped the state for most bears taken in the 2022 season.Tioga County: 187 bears.Lycoming County: 152 bears.Bradford County: 126 bears.Luzerne County: 126 bears.Centre County: 122 bears.Potter County: 119 bears.Clearfield County: 114 bears.Monroe County: 114 bears.Clinton County: 113 bears.Pennsylvania bear populationBlack bears are typically found across about 75 percent of Pennsylvania, however, there have been confirmed sightings in every county, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.The Game Commission estimates that there are about 18,000 bears in the state. Statewide season harvests by county and region are: Northwest (238): Warren, 67 (59); Clarion, 38 (41); Venango, 35 (78); Forest, 27 (55); Jefferson, 26 (69); Butler, 21 (19); Crawford, 19 (59); Mercer, 4 (13); and Erie, 1 (18). A black bears biting force (975 PSI) is powerful enough that it may kill numerous species by digging its 2.5-inch fangs into a crucial spot. Anything that hangs and swings will inevitably turn into a bear toy and will be quickly disassembled, limit the amount of food you put out to what your birds can clean up during the day and always store bird foods indoors. In WMUs, 1B, 2C, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A,4B,4C,4D,4E and 5A, bear season runs Nov. 26-Dec. 3. The state has breeding populations in the western counties of Garrett, Allegany, Frederick, and Washington. Could they be roaming close to your backyard? The Game Commission on Dec. 2 issued a news release reporting preliminary totals for the four-day statewide general bear season, but the numbers were inaccurate because they included bears harvested on the first day of the extended season. It is also unlawful to set out any food for wildlife that causes bears to congregate or become accustomed to a particular place. I'm Jack Hubley News eight. The seven top harvests all have occurred since 2005. Depending on the year, the bear harvest has increased 20 to 80 percent in areas open to extended hunting. The length and timing of hunting seasons is set such that populations with greater human-bear conflicts are reduced or stabilized while areas with few conflicts are allowed to increase. Hunters took 737 bears in the archery season, 712 in the muzzleloader/special firearms season, 1,051 in the general season and 663 in the extended season. 2023, Hearst Television Inc. on behalf of WGAL-TV. Between 2010 and 2021, the state grew by an average of 0.2% per year. Visit a Pennsylvania bear check station:http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2013/11/black_bear_pennsylvania_huntin.html. The bears skull measurement was23-3/16 inches. In 2004, hunters took 2,972 bears from 53 counties. However, areas that are largely agricultural or urban such as the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania and also parts of the western border, lack the forest cover that bears need. The total number of bears taken was 3,170, which was down from the 2021 total of 3,621. Keep a safe distance and call your local game warden. For example: in 2003 a regulation was passed that makes it illegal to feed bears; a statewide database for documenting human-bear conflicts is now in place; and emphasis has been put on educational efforts to show people how to coexist with bears. A 747-pound bear was shot in Lycoming County. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. The ages, races, and population density of Pennsylvania tell a story. The bruin is believed to be 14 years old as the Game Commission had captured the bear in 2016 and placed an ear tag on it. The previous record occurred in 2000, when . They really try and avoid any kind of conflict with people, they look at us as a threat. Pennsylvania reports its number of black bears has decreased and that's acceptable, wildlife officials say. Video above: From the WGAL archives, bears and bird feeders. Bear spotted again in West Hempfield Township, Lancaster County has been caught, Pennsylvania Game Commission captures wandering black bear in West Hempfield Township. His award-winning work has also aired on NPR, Marketplace and other outlets. We are biologists, but in reality, were mostly managing people, making management plans that help kind of construct rules and regulations and how to get people to behave, to be able to interact with wildlife so we can maintain these populations and preserve them for future generations, Carrollo says. The mountainous north-central and northeastern counties of Pennsylvania are the ideal places to see bears. Heres a look at the rambling bears of Pennsylvania: http://www.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2017/06/bears_on_move_across_pennsylva.html, If you do run into a bear, here's how to survive. He was only out about two hours when he saw a 300-pounder standing over the side of a hill. These provisional estimates are postcensal estimates, and the final estimates are intercensal estimates. USAFacts used the final intercensal estimates for 1970 through 2009 and the provisional postcensal estimates for 2010 and after. Bear attacks fall into 2 categories. Other top counties . Monroe County: 114 bears. For population by age, USAFacts grouped people ages 04 in different ways depending on the census. These animals are still dangerous apex predators. Lycoming County led the state with 283, followed by Clinton County with 267 and Tioga County with 261. The bears, if left alone, arent dangerous. However, the number of hunters taking advantage of this extended season is increasing, so we will continue to closely monitor the bear population and annual harvests. Two counties in the state of Pennsylvania have populations of more than one million. In 2002, this extended season occurred in Pike, Monroe and Carbon counties. When on all fours, black bears stand around three feet tall, and five to seven feet tall when standing erect. YouTubes privacy policy is available here and YouTubes terms of service is available here. WATCH: Sharks biting alligators, the most epic lion battles, and MUCH more. 13 August 2021 Episode24 December 2021 Episode. Here are the details on "Bucker Bear:"http://blog.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2014/09/bucket_bear_freed_of_its_bucke.html. Conversely, many counties in Pennsylvania have populations of fewer than fifty thousand residents. Carrollo pulls out her tranquilizer dart gun, takes aim at the bears thick shoulder muscles, and pulls the trigger. Large metropolitan regions and agricultural areas, such as the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania and parts of the western border, do not have enough forest habitat, therefore bears spotted there are primarily temporary. In 2005, hunters set a record harvest by taking 4,164 bears in the regular and extended bear seasons. Bears are drawn to beehives, especially when they emerge from hibernation in the spring and when honey production is highest in the late summer and fall. In 2021 a central Pennsylvania hunter killed a 722-pound bear in Franklin County. Read more of the explanation of hibernation in bears in Pennsylvania:http://www.pennlive.com/wildaboutpa/2010/01/what_triggers_hibernation_in_p.html, Epidemic of mange is killing Pennsylvania bear. Pennsylvanias black bear population was much smaller in the 1970s, according to Carrollo. Final bear harvest numbers will be provided in early 2020 after biologists confirm and crosscheck harvest records. As a threat counties were heavier than 600 pounds 2,744 people like people are individuals and are. Rank first among counties for bear harvest has increased 20 to 80 percent in areas open to extended hunting according... Killed a 722-pound bear in Franklin County 124 bears inbox every day and 2021 the... Season accounts for 30 to 40 percent of the wilderness, and the final intercensal.... 2021, the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day inbox day! 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